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We are hopeful that NYC will be spared a direct hit by Hurricane Sandy, but should things take a turn for the worse, the main thing to remember is to obey the city's evacuation instructions.

You are not (a) cool, (b) intrepid, or (c) smart to hole up in your Zone A abode if Mayor B instructs you otherwise. (That includes you, Red Hook.) And by hanging around where you are not wanted, you may endanger the lives of those who may be called on to rescue you.

When Hurricane Irene danced by New York last summer, we asked Leon Geoxavier, an architect and window expert at Walker Restoration Consultants in Manhattan, what apartment dwellers should worry about window-wise.

And although in many hurricane-prone regions "windows are required to be projectile-impact tested, we do not have such a requirement here in NYC," said Geoxavier.

"I would generally say those with larger, unobstructed glass windows are more at risk than those with smaller windows or windows with muntin grids," he said, adding that whether you live on a high or low floor matters less than wind conditions.

Stay away from windows as much as you can; obviously this may be challenging given the size of the typical NYC apartment. At a mininum draw the blinds and drapes to minimize the impact of flying objects.

If you are inclined to take the extra and somewhat controversial step of taping up your windows, make sure to buy a strong tape like duct tape (not painter's tape).

"First make an 'x' going from corner to corner, make sure the tape overlaps onto the frame (not just on the glass), then (if desired and recommended) make additional lines forming an asterisk, again going from frame to frame," advised Geoxavier.

3. Elevators

In last year's hurricane near-miss, residential elevators were ordered shut down for the duration of the storm. Particularly if you live on a high floor or have trouble getting around, make sure you've got everything you need to hunker down for a few days. Check in on your elderly or infirm neighbors too.

4. Basements

If you've got stuff stored in the basement -- particularly you Zone A and B folks -- you might want to relocate the most valuable/vulnerable up to the drier altitude of your apartment. At a minimum, buy some plastic tubs from Home Depot or better yet, water proof plastic storage containers.

5. Blackouts

Especially if you live in a high rise, you may lose water if there's a blackout, so stock up on the bottled stuff or fill up some pots or the tub.

Keep in mind that besides the obvious problems and inconveniences associated with blackouts, there's another problem: The power surges that often occur at the moment power comes back on. They can and do burn out everything from your microwave, to your Subzero fridge to your flat screen television and computer equipment.

Even without a hurricane, “we see it maybe 20 to 30 times a year,” says apartment insurance broker Jeff Schneider of Gotham Brokerage Co. Inc.

If you have insurance, this kind of damage is covered, but it's smart to unplug everything you value in advance.

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